Khaleda, son held for corruption

Khaleda told a Dhaka court that she and her son are innocent. But she was refused bail. 8220;This is a conspiracy to tarnish the image of my family and my party,8221; she said. 8220;We have done nothing wrong. This case against us must be lifted.8221;

From the court, Khaleda, escorted by hundreds of police, was taken to a makeshift prison near the Parliament building. Her prison is just a few blocks from where her arch rival and another ex-premier, Sheikh Hasina, has been held since July on extortion charges.

The arrest of Khaleda and her younger son came after the commission accused her of illegally influencing the selection of an operator for two state-run container depots in 2003, during her second term in power. Rahman had allegedly influenced his mother to select the operator of his choice, police said. The son was remanded to police custody for a week.

The complaint said Khaleda8217;s administration did not follow standard procedure in awarding the work involving two cargo terminals, one in Dhaka8217;s Kamlapur Railway Station and another in the country8217;s main Chittagong seaport.

Khaleda8217;s elder son, Tarique Rahman, was arrested on charges of extortion in March.